Jungle Camps India, a leading name in eco-tourism, is charting new territory in India’s hospitality sector with its strategic expansion into heritage and leisure segments. Known for its wilderness lodges set in some of India’s most pristine forests, the company is planning diversification to enhance its offerings, ensure year-round revenue, and solidify its position as a leader in experiential hospitality.
Managing Director Gajendra Singh Rathore, a Chartered Accountant turned eco-tourism entrepreneur, has been instrumental in this transformation. “We are expanding into leisure and heritage hotels to reduce our reliance on seasonal wildlife tourism. This allows us to reach a broader audience while maintaining our core focus on sustainability, personalised service, and community involvement,” said Rathore.
The company’s December 2024 public listing has been a pivotal moment, enabling access to capital markets and lowering the cost of funds. This has accelerated the rollout of both greenfield and brownfield projects. The listing has also boosted partnerships with tourism boards, global hospitality brands, and eco-investors, strengthening Jungle Camps India’s brand as a scalable, sustainable hospitality platform, Rathore revealed.
Among its marquee initiatives is the Gokul Rahi Hotel Project in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Set to open by FY 2026, this 100-room eco-conscious hotel, developed on government-allotted land in partnership with UP Tourism, will cater to cultural, spiritual, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism. Solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and locally sourced materials are integral to its design, ensuring sustainability, Rathore added.
Another flagship venture is the restoration of Sheopur Fort near Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park, home to India’s cheetah reintroduction program. This brownfield project will transform the 500-year-old fort into a boutique luxury hotel featuring night safaris, cheetah-viewing expeditions, and immersive historical experiences, he said.
In addition to these, the company is advancing plans for an eco-luxury resort in Parsili near Sanjay Dubri National Park and is in discussions for properties in Bandhavgarh and Jawai.
Rathore also informed that, Jungle Camps India continues to prioritise environmental stewardship in all its projects. Solar power, hybrid energy systems, rainwater harvesting, and sewage treatment plants are being integrated across new developments. A successful biogas pilot at Tadoba Jungle Camp is set to be replicated throughout its portfolio. The company has also implemented a zero-plastic policy, on-site organic composting, and partnerships with local recycling vendors.
Community engagement remains central, he said, with a commitment to hire at least 50% of staff locally at all new properties. Formal collaborations with NGOs, forest departments, and tribal organizations further underline Jungle Camp’s conservation-driven ethos.
With a clear focus on growth, Jungle Camps India is adopting an asset-light model, prioritising leases and management contracts to scale efficiently while preserving capital. This approach enables the company to maintain its sustainability standards while exploring opportunities in underserved heritage towns, forest buffer zones, and riverine regions.
“Our new segments are designed to create stable, year-round income streams while enhancing the lifetime value of our guests. By blending wildlife, culture, and sustainability, we’re building a resilient business model,” said Rathore.
The addition of leisure and heritage properties not only complements Jungle Camps India’s core wilderness lodges but also strengthens its brand’s value. “Whether it’s a jungle lodge or a heritage hotel, we remain committed to creating authentic experiences that resonate with nature and history,” Rathore concluded.
